Overshoe



2 Sheets-Sheet 1.

(N0 Model.)

A. B. WALTERS.

OVERSHOE.

No. 384,483. Patented June l2 1888.

JNI/E/vok A TTORNE y WITNESSES:

N. PETERS. Phomumagraphcr. washington. D. i;

2 S Dn E T L A W B Am UVERSHOB.

Patnted June 12, M388.

l /NVENTo/e W ATTORNEY WITNESSES:

@MLM

N4 PETERS, msxoumosrwhan wahlngwn, DA Cn UNITED STATES PATENT Fries.

ALMERN B. "WALTERS, OF PHILADELPHIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF TO JOSEPH H.V BLACK, OF COLUMBIA, PENNSYLVANIA, AND DAVID L. OLIVER, OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY. i Y

'ov'lznsHoe SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 384,483', dated J'une 12, 1888. Application nlea June 21.1851. semi No. 241,975. (No ninna.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ALMERN B. WALTERs, a citizen of the UnitedStates, residing at Philadelphia, in the county of Philadelphia and State of Pennsylvania, haveinvented certain new and useful Improvements in Rubber Over` shoes or Boots, of which the following is a specification.

My invention has relation to rubber boots 1c or overshoes of the form which are provided with anti-slipping fabrics on their soles; and it has for itsobject the formation of the sole or tread of the boots or shoes and the securing thereto of a cheap and readily-obtainable antislipping fabric, so as to be removable therefrom and be readily and economically replaced when worn out, in order to make the same commercially available for use.

My invention accordingly consists of a rubber boot or shoe having in its sole or tread one or more depressions or recesses, in which are cemented strips of textile material or like fabric, as hereinafter more particularly described in the specification, and pointed out in the claim.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l represents an elevation of a rubber overshoe embodying my improvements, showing the cloth strips on the sole and heel iiush with the bottom of the outer sole; Fig.

2, a like viewr showing the cloth strips pro jecting beyond the outer sole; Fig. 3, a plan view of the sole or bottom of the boot or shoe, showing preferably configuration of cloth 3,5 strips for the same; Fig. 4, a like view with the cloth strips and outer sole removed; Fig. 5, a plan of outer sole having openings in the front or tread part of the sole and in the heel for insertion of the cloth strips when they are to be cemented to the inner sole of the shoe; Fig. y6, a like view showing the sole and heel cloth strips detached from the shoe or boot; and Fig. 7, a perspective of the outer sole, l showing depressions in its tread and heel parts for the reception of thecloth strips. y

A indicates the boot or overshoe, a itsinner andB its outer sole, and C and D, respectively, the heel and the tread or sole strips of cloth or other suitable anti-slipping material.k These cloth strips Dfor the sole are preferably elon- 5o gated strips, extending rearwardly from near the toe or front of the tread of the soleto the arch partof the same, and surrounding its sides and forward ends is a band of rubber, b. The heel-strips are of corresponding form, only 5 5 smaller, and are surrounded by a band of rubber, b. These cloth strips may in width come near to the sides of the soles, as shown, or have a configuration conforming more or less, as desired, to that of the sole and heel of the shoe. The bands I) b are obtained or provided for in any suitable manner; but I prefer to cut or form openings bL and b3, respectively, in the tread orforward part andin the heel of the outer sole, as shown more plainly in Fig. 5; or o 5 the outer sole may be provided with depressions instead of, but similar in form to, openingsv b2 b3, as indicated in Fig. 5. In the former case ythe strips C and D are cemented to the inner sole, a, of the boot or shoe, and in the latter the said strips are cemented to the outer sole, B.

The marginal rubber bands, whether forming part of the outer sole, B, or not, protect the edges of the cloth strips against undue wear, any tendency to detachment, and unraveling. The cloth strips may be dush with the outer surface of the outer sole, as indicated in Fig. l, in which case thelheft or weightis upon both the cloth and rubber simultaneously; or they may project beyond the outer sole, as shown in Fig. 2, and in this case the vheft or weight is first upon the cloth.

Any suitable cement may be employed for afxing the cloth strips to the outer or inner sole of the shoe or boot, and as these strips are simply of a size corresponding with the dimensions of the openings or depressions b b they are removable therefrom, when worn out, by simply pulling or otherwise tearing them off 9o from the shoes, whereupon new strips are inserted into openings or depressions b b and cemented to the shoes or boots.

I have personally practically tested overshoes provided with the textile strips C D made and affixed to the tread and the heel of the shoe, as above described, and find that all slipping is prevented, that the ordinary cloth strips used by ine are sufficiently durable for any wear that they may ordinarily be subjected to, and that as a firm step can be taken without fear of slipping:r the outer rubber sole wears evenly both at the heel and at the tread throughout or on both sides, thereby avoiding` wearing ont the overshoe on one side of the heel or the tread.

It will be noted that as the cloth strips C- oupy the longitudinal central portions of the heel and tread of the sole the inner and outer soles of the ovcrshoe or boot are put together in the usual manner and the shoes do not leak either when new or when the eloth strips show signs of wear.

It is obvious that the strips D may be in one piece, as shown7 orbe composed of two or more pieces, in which ease the pieces will have marginal protecting rubber bauds between them.

If desired, one or the other of the strips D or C may be alone used.

I am aware that sheets or plates of cork have been attached to the soles and heels of rubber overshocs and boots to prevent slipping; but

:1s-the cork, after being exposed to wear, very soon becomes hard and dry it cracks, crumbles, or deteriorates, so that it is unfit for the purpose for which it was intended, and when worn out special plates or layers of cork are needed to replace the same. I am also aware that the soles and heels of rubber overshoes have been provided with recesses for the insertion of anti-slipping material, and I do not therefore claim the same; but

As an improved article of manufacture, a rubber boot or shoe having its sole or tread provided with one or more recesses or depressions and strips of textile material cemented in said depressions, so as to be removable therefrom when worn out, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

ALMEREr B. \VALTERS.

lVitnesses:

JOHN RoDoEies, S. J. VAX STAVOREN. 

